If ever there was a band to sum up the other side of Glasgow - that fey, self-analysing, jumper and loafers-wearing indie music circuit - then Belle and Sebastian would be it.

The seven-piece formed in 1996 here in the city and, nine albums later, have come to represent a gentler Glasgow sound known the world over - and they’ve taken that same sound through gentle, melodic pop, full-scale musical territory and even a bit of disco.

It was no surprise, then, when they were announced for the Friday night of Glasgow’s newest music festival, TRNSMT.

“I guess it’s been a while since there’s been something like this - a proper festival in Glasgow, like there is in London’s Hyde Park,” said Chris. “It’s good that it’s happening - there’s lots of stuff going on this year.

Belle and Sebastian collect their award for Outstanding Contribution To Music during the 2014 NME Awards (Image: PA)

“Radiohead are an amazing band, one of the most important of the last 20 years - to be playing with them is incredible.

“We got offered a support tour with them away back when the band first started but we didn’t have it together at that point to go off on a big arena tour. So it’s nice to get to play with them now after all these years.”

He explained: “It might be a bit of a cliche but I think it’s true - touring bands genuinely enjoy playing in Glasgow. You usually get really good support and people don’t hold back. It’s not like they’ll be pacing themselves because it’s only the Friday.

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“It’s different for us because it’s our hometown and you’re playing to people you know - when you’re on tour you can relax a bit because your friends aren’t watching you.

“People here don’t let you get too above yourself. They’ll tell you if it was a good show but they’ll also be the first to say that thing you did, that was ridiculous.”

It’s easy to praise the famous Glasgow crowds - but how are the band feeling about an outdoor gig, and do they have those umbrellas to hand?

(Image: Soren Solkaer Starbird)

“We’ve played outdoors in Glasgow a few times over the years,” said Chris. “Other than one away back at the start, in 1997 when we had a gig at Kelvingrove Park rained off, we’ve been incredibly lucky with the weather. Hopefully we can keep that good luck going!”

As for material, the band are recording “a lot” - but it’s important to Chris that it’s heard right the first time.

“It’s probably not going to be debuted there, in these days when everything gets filmed and it’s straight up on Youtube. You want to hear the proper version.

“It’ll be a career-spanning mixture - some stuff from the last album (the disco-tinged Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance) and stuff going all the way back to the first few records.

“And usually when it’s a hometown show then there are some songs in there that reference specific places in the city.”

Chris lives just along the road in Dennistoun - so an east end gig is ideal for toddling home afterwards.

And while the band won’t be hanging around long enough to enjoy the rest of TRNSMT - with tour commitments to attend to elsewhere - we couldn’t help but ask Chris where he would head before or after a big gig nearby?